The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-01-27

to consider, and L do not care to So,
anything that would appear to be sait
for tho purpose of influencing the Nom
bors of that body"
'In some sections the Legislature ha
been criticised for not having turned
this department over to the farmers.
What have you to say about that?"
"Unless l am very much mistaken i
is now managed by the formers. Gov
crnor Richardson, Colonel Duncan an6
Colonel Llpscomb have been farmers al
thcir lives, I believe. Chancellor John.
son is one of the most extensive and sic.
cessful farmers in the rich Pee Dec sec.
ton of the State, although he is also an
able lawyer, and Mr.. Perry is q mer-
chant, but [ think is also a large land
owner. So that you sec the farmers arc
III large majority on the boa,d. lam
the executive officer Of the department,
though not member of tho board, and
farming is the only occupation I have
over followed. Taken altogether, then.
the department is pretty we'll under the
control of farmers. There is another
matter that should not be overlooked in
this connection. Colonel Duncan repre-
sents the State Agricultural Society and
Colonel Lipscomb the State Grange-
the two largest agricultural organizations
| IN tho State-and if the farmers are not
satisfied with their management at any
time they can easily remove them from
the board"
"What is tho present condition of the
Department."
81 think it is one of the best equipped
departments i'll the United States, and
capable of doing great work for our
nrti ~
start out in few days to collect samples
of all the fertilizers offered for sale in
the State, and the laboratory will soon
be i'll full blast turning out the analyses,
lhe laboratory is under the charge of q
thoroughly competent chemist, and he
is prepared to do the official work of the
department., and to make analyses of
fertilizers, minerals, ores, marls, waters,
&c., for our people, free of charge. We
have invited the farmers to send us SAM
pies OF the fertilizers they buy, and we
will be glad to have every farmer in the
State remember that we want the invita-
tlon accepted.
cdr. II. W. Ravcnel, the botanist of
the department., is one of the most emf
nent scientists i'll the South. He will
make his department of great benefit to
the farmers during the year.
CDR. Benjamin McInnes, Jr., the
veterinary surgeon of the department, is
doing great deal of good by tho exami-
nation of diseased stock in various parts
OF the State, and prescribing remedies
Tor the prevention and abatement of
diseases among stock. The increased
interest III stock raising and the large
amount invested in blooded stock in
South Carolina make it of the highest
Importance that ctory precaution should
be taken against the spread of contagi-
Gus diseases, and DR.. McInncs will use
every effort to the accomplishment of
this end.
"Mr. Graham, who has been detailed
by the United States signal service to
organize and take charge Of tho State
weather service, under the department,
has entered upon his work with cnthusi-
aSm, and, as You have already published
has established about forty stations that
now receive the daily weather indica-
tlons, and in short while he will have
stations of observation ut every county
seat III South Carolina. 1t is not ncces-
sary for me to speak of tho many ad-
vantagcs which the weather service will
give to all classes of our people. Its
benefits arc recognized and appreciated
everywhere.
"Mr. IL. l.. Roche, the special assist
ant, continues in charge of the phosphate
department, and tho splendid services he
has already rendered the State in getting
accurate returns Of rock mined and Sc
curing prompt payment of royalty due
the State IS ample guarantee that this
important interest will not be neglected.
eve are now making arrangements to
enlarge the monthly report, and durine
the year it will contain, besides the usual
matter relating to the work of the de-
partment, regular contributions from
the chemist, the botanist, the yctcrina-
rian, the signal service observer, statisti
cal statements and other matters Of in
tercst to the farmers. We are daily dis
tributing hand-books and other publca-
tlons to all parts of tho country and
dung everything that we think will bet
ter advertise our resources and adyant-
ages. We now have on file in the Office
clghty-siX applications for carp, and it
will require !, 200 fish to supply the ap-
pllcants. These will be furnished from
our ponds if the number thore is
sufficient, and if not we will obtain them
ifom tho Government ponds at Wash
ington.
'Iho department will make an exhibit
ut the Grange encampmcnt at Spartan
burg next summer, and in every way
possible encourage tho formation Gf
aSrloultural clubs and organizations. AS
soon as practicable after the time pre-
sclloed by law has expired the board
will establish the two experimental Sta
tons provided for by the Legislature,
and we expect to have them in active
operation as far rs possible during the
the year, under the charge of a compo-
tent director and employees. The board
will also faithfully carry out the pro.
visions of tho law in regard to the coilec-
ton of information regarding agricuI-
turol colleges, so as to bo prepared to
submit the report regarding them at the
next session of the Legislature. Cur
desire is TO make the department of the
| greatest benefit to the farmers, and we
are cndcayoring to keep them informed
and interested III its work, in order to
secure their cordial cooperation.